Loyalist College students may get the “winter blues”

BELLEVILLE – Winter is approaching, and some Loyalist College students are feeling more than just a chill in the air. Days grow darker earlier and it’s affecting some students here on campus.

Fitness and health promotion student, Mathieu Leduc, said he experiences Seasonal Affective Disorder every year. He breaks down a few of his ways to combat the wintertime blues. “I watch some TV, get myself to the gym if I can – going to the gym boosts my mood and releases endorphins.”

Daylight Savings Time ends on Nov. 6, and clocks are being turned back one hour. According to Live Science[2], this results in a tilt of the Earth’s axis, which affects students’ circadian rhythms. The rhythms affect our inner “body clock” that tells our bodies when to eat, sleep and rise.

The “winter blues”, or also medically known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a type of depression. It begins with the change of seasons when the days get shorter and there is less daylight, causing those affected to feel moody. SAD affects 2 to 3 per cent of the population and are mostly common in young adult females, according to CBC News Canada[3].

A lack of sunlight contributes to reduced melatonin and serotonin levels which may be the reason a portion of Loyalist College students are feeling an imbalance. Melatonin affects sleep patterns and mood, while serotonin is vital for dreams, appetite and the flow of thoughts. SAD may also have an impact on students’ work ethic and studies.

“Those affected by seasonal depression aren’t getting enough sun, and that’s when it hits. You need the sun and your Vitamin D to get all your neurotransmitters in your brain working properly,” said registered nurse Lauren Deans of the Loyalist Student Health Centre[4].